English 5970 Studies in English
Politics and the English Language
Tuesdays 4-6:20 p.m. in 1345 Schneider

Dr. Lisa Minnick
 Spring 2008

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Office hours: Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 12 noon and by appointment in 923 Sprau Tower
Email: lisa(dot)minnick(at)wmich(dot)edu


Course description, purpose, and objectives:

Taking its name from George Orwell’s 1946 essay of the same title, Politics and the English Language focuses on linguistic authority and social organization. Beginning with a historical approach, we will cover language in politics and the politics of language, from policy issues such as ‘English-only’ and ‘official language’ legislation to linguistic prescriptivism and ideas about standardness. We will also analyze language attitudes and the ways that language can be implicated in ideologies about race, class, gender, and sexuality. And since it’s an election year, we will take a look at the ways that language is deployed on behalf of candidates for overtly political aims.

For more information, please refer to syllabus, linked here.

 

 

Department of English                                         Western Michigan University                                  Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008